Impact of Gibberellic Acid and Potassium Nitrate Pre-Sowing Treatments on True Potato Seed Germination and Early Growth: A Comparative Analysis

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of various pre-sowing chemical treatments on True Potato Seed (TPS) germination and early growth to identify optimal treatments that enhance seedling vigor and productivity in Dolakha, Nepal. The experiment was conducted from April to June 2023 in Charikot, Dolakha district (27.669518° N, 86.051006° E). It used a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with eight treatments, each replicated three times. Treatments included hot water, gibberellic acid (GA3) at concentrations of 1000, 1500, and 2000 ppm, and potassium nitrate (KNO3) at 0.2%, 0.4%, and 0.6%. These are applied for 24 hours in the dark, followed by shade drying. Key metrics recorded were germination percentage, shoot length, root length, leaf number, and seedling vigor. Data analysis was conducted using ANOVA in R-Studio and the results were presented via MS Excel. The findings revealed that seeds treated with 2000 ppm GA3 had the highest germination rate at 86.34%, compared to the control group (59.72%). This concentration also produced the longest shoot length (11.92 cm) and the highest seedling vigor index (1.01). The Variations in the relative growth rates for shoot, root lengths, and the number of leaves were not statistically significant across treatments. In conclusion, the study demonstrated that higher concentrations of GA3 (2000 ppm) and KNO3 (0.6%) significantly improved TPS germination and seedling vigor. These findings suggest that these treatments can benefit potato cultivation by enhancing seedling quality and reducing dependence on seed tubers. Further research is recommended to explore the long-term impacts on crop yield and broader applicability.